‘No,’ whispered Penny with unusual certainty. ‘He doesn’t look like a lone wolf. He’s too smooth to live on his own in those remote fisherman’s cottages. He’s more of your hot-and-cold room service kind of chap. In my view, that is,’ she added, suddenly surprised at her own self-confidence.

The newcomer looked around him as if he were waiting for someone, consulted his watch and got up. Not the kind of man who liked to be kept waiting, clearly. He nodded in their direction and strolled off.

‘Hmmm . . .’ began Dora, just as Takis appeared with some menus. ‘He looks rather intriguing.’

‘I see you’ve met our rich Athenian,’ Takis grinned as he handed them a menu. ‘Alexandros Georgiades. Calls himself Xan. He’s a property developer with fingers in a lot of dubious pies in Athens.’

‘I can tell you’re not a huge fan,’ Nell laughed.

‘I hate Athenians. They laid waste to our island in 400 BC because we refused to give them tribute, killed all the men and sold the women and children into slavery.’

‘And it’s not as if you’re one to hold grudges,’ Dora commented. ‘So what is the rich Athenian doing here?’

‘He’s bought a tumbledown house near the beach from old Yannis, and he wants to bulldoze part of an olive grove for his holiday home.’

‘And you don’t approve?’

‘It’s a beautiful spot. Olive trees are sacred in this country. Sophocles called them “the trees that feed the children”. And it happens to be next door to my beach bar. Not everyone likes the idea. Fortunately it needs official approval.’

‘And you don’t think he’ll get it?’

‘There is a big meeting coming up. It will be interesting to see.’

They ate a simple but delicious supper of lamb cooked on hot coals, with a Greek salad of tomatoes and black olives on which a huge slab of feta cheese took pride of place.

‘Do you remember when we were in Zanthos and shared one of these between all four of us?’ Penny reminded.

‘And they wouldn’t give us any more free pitta bread because we ate so much of it!’

They all laughed at the memory. ‘Oh dear,’ Penny admitted, ‘I feel guilty having such a good time when Moira’s ill.’

‘I am one hundred per cent sure that Moira will not be thinking about you. Moira is quite selfish in her monomania about ancient Greek culture,’ Nell corrected. ‘And anyway, it sounds like she’s having a whale of a time proving the Trojan War never actually happened.’

‘And it does mean we can have another drink without Moira being holier-than-thou about hating the taste of alcohol.’ Dora poured them a second glass.

Penny, who had been about to cover her glass with her hand, decided against it. Her phone suddenly beeped beside her, making her jump so much that the others stared at her.